Polar Scope Align 4+

Telescope Polar alignment

Dimitrios Kechagias

    • 4.6 • 146 Ratings
    • Free
    • Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description

Solar Eclipse calculator tool added in time for the April 8th eclipse!

Polar Scope Align will calculate the position of Polaris or σ Octantis in your Polar Scope reticle for your location (using your phone's GPS or manually), allowing a quick and accurate polar alignment. It is one of the few programs that are accurate in lower latitudes by correcting for atmospheric refraction (so expect results to agree only with precise software and not most simplistic "polar align" apps - see the "Accuracy" section in help for details). It will even allow you to measure and correct a centering error of the reticle. In the settings you can select from a vast collection of reticles, one that matches your own. Pretty much every reticle in the market is supported:
iOptron old & new, Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.
Feel free to contact the developer with any questions, feature/reticle requests and any problems you have with the app. If you like Polar Scope Align, please consider leaving a review on the app store.

Main features:

-Accurate calculation of Polaris or Sigma Oct for any date and location, including effect of atmospheric refraction (and annual aberration, nutation). Most other apps do not perform precision calculations, so please only compare app readings to accurate sources (USNO, scientific software etc).
-Automatic Time/Location.
-Calculation and correction/compensation for off-center reticles.
-Remember zero position on Celestron / Skywatcher / Orion etc reticles.
-Full app in red-color night mode.
-Moon phase.
-Messier, Caldwell and Bright star database.
-Download and explore DSS color images of the DSO database entries.
-8 calculators useful for observing and astrophotography.

This free version is ad-supported. You can also try the ad-free Pro version with many extra features:

-Ability to manually enter time/date and location (including saving favorites, list of recent locations, loading from world location database, searching online).
-Zoomable reticle view.
-Approximate daytime / no polarscope polar alignment tool. Great for visual use, solar imaging (including eclipses) and even limited short focal length astrophotography. Now with sun shadow calibration for more accuracy!
-Alt-az alignment error display for mounts that calculate it after star alignment (e.g. iOptron iEQ45, CEM60).
-Polar alignment when your scope is not in zero position (for mounts on which you can always access the polar scope).
-Lunar Calendar with solar/lunar rise/set and twilight times.
-Bubble level (using either gyro or accelerometer) and Compass heading, as well as magnetic declination reading.
-GPS accuracy & elevation data.
-Switch to alternative night mode colors, or daytime mode for the tools.
-Red/White/LED light control.
-Deep Space Object Database with 22000+ objects from several catalogs (Messier, Caldwell, NGC, IC, Herschell 400, Sharpless 2, Barnard), along with stars (Yale Bright Star) & planets. The database is searchable and fully configurable with filters, various sorting methods etc.
- Get help finding the DSO Database objects with your non-goto telescope with the Push-To function.
-Connect to and control WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts.
-Over 30 calculators useful for observing and astrophotography, from eyepiece magnification and field of view, to imaging resolution and reducers.
-World astro-weather report based on data from 7Timer!, Met.NO & more.
-Water vapor satellite images.
-Solar Eclipse Simulator.
-List of visible ISS and bright satellite passes.
-iOptron Named Star list, Meade LX200 star list.
-Screen dimming.

What’s New

Version 6.7

Please support the app by reviewing or rating! You will never get annoying popups asking you in the app.
Special update for the April 2024 Solar Eclipse:
- Solar Eclipse Calculator ("other" category in the calculators list). Calculate the details of any Solar Eclipse of the past or future for your location.
- Apply/Tab buttons added to calculator keyboards.
- Further reduced app size.

Ratings and Reviews

4.6 out of 5
146 Ratings

146 Ratings

DJLayinLo ,

Fantastic App!!!!

I originally downloaded to confirm my polar alignment on my EQ mount. I do not have a polar scope but thought I’d still give it a look. I was so impressed by all the extra features this app contains that it found it way into almost nightly use. The easy to navigate design and clean interface make for quick and efficient use in the dark. There’s also more amazing calculators than I can count on two hands. I don’t think I can offer enough gratitude for such and all inclusive celestial lovers app nor can I offer enough praise to the devs. You won’t regret purchasing the Pro app. Get it now and enjoy it this evening!

Developer Response ,

Thanks for the enthusiastic review! If you enjoy the extra features you might be interested in trying new ones out before they are released - just use the contact page on the app website to ask about it.

:$' ,

Finally aligned perfectly with a few extra steps.

If you are not properly polar aligned everything else fails. I had a hard time doing this with my polar scope before I found this app. Open the app, pick your location and it will show you where Polaris is supposed to be. I have the EQR-6 pro mount with a polar scope so i used the alt and azimuth bolts to match it with this app. 2 Star aligned, then alignment polar which gives you Mel and maz errors then adjust according to the hand controller. I did this a few times and now my errors read 000’00”00. First time ever! I can take 5 minute exposures without a guide scope.

AstroPat45 ,

Use It Every Session

I have been using this app to roughly polar align my mount at the beginning of every astrophotography imaging session for over a year. After this I fine-tune my alignment with SharpCap, and I have found that I am very rarely over 5 arc-minutes out of alignment using this app and usually under 2.
The app also conveniently displays all time and location data needed for GoTo mounts.
And yes there are zero popup ads!

This app is a huge timesaver for my AP setup routine and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

App Privacy

The developer, Dimitrios Kechagias, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

  • Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Identifiers
  • Usage Data

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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